Philippine meat imports surge 35%, Brazil leads

Philippines' meat imports increased by over one-third to reach 237,681 metric tons in the first two months of 2025 compared to the same period last year.

Pork imports alone grew by nearly 48 percent to 124,047 metric tons, with significant increases in pork cuts and bellies, offals, and fats.

Chicken meat imports rose by more than a fifth to 77,310 metric tons, with over half being mechanically deboned meat used in processed foods such as hotdogs and meat loaf.

Brazil remained the top supplier of meat to the Philippines during January-February 2025, followed closely by the United States.

The surge in imports was driven by ongoing animal diseases like bird flu and African swine fever (ASF), which have reduced domestic production capacity.

As a result, the Department of Agriculture continues its vaccination program against these diseases and recently inaugurated a vaccine facility to combat ASF, bird flu, and foot-and-mouth disease.